Maternity supporter



Dec. 30, 1930.

s. F. MORGAN r MATERNITY SUPPORI'ER Filed Oct. 17,

1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jra/z 17%7 Filed Oct. 17, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I n venior Jain/z Win70 Dec. 30,1930. 5. F. MORGAN MATERNITY SUPPORTEH Filed Oct. 17, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor y an M A tomey ara/z l atented Dec. 353, 1935 i FTE E5 Fe s w r E" h be; in A treats.

PATENT MATERNITY I SUEPORTER Application filed October 17, 1929.

This invention relates to an improved supporter which, as the title implies, is especially, but not necessarily, adapted for use by maternity patients.

In carrying my conception into eifect l have evolved and produced a novel structural organization of parts which are themselves individually in character and which are combined in a practicable manner for producing a complete support-er which is comfortable, superior to other known. types of supporters with which I am familiar, and otherwise well adapted for fulfilling the requirements of an article of this class in a highly satisfactory manner.

Brieiiy, the supporter is distinguished by a novel waist or body encircling assembly including an elastic self-adjusting frontal piece, and an inelastic brace equipped rear piece laced thereto to effect an appropriate adjustment between the parts.

The frontal section is regarded as dependable and superior in that it is capable of yielding longitudinally and transversely of its area, the same being constructed for lace connection at its opposite ends with the rear section, being made in halves and connected together by separable hook and eye fasteners or the like, and being of a shape and outline to insure comfort and to provide for freedom of movement of the anatomy with which it cooperates.

The rear section is regarded as advantageous in that it includes a substantially ovate portion in outline with approximately rectangular end extensions so made as to permit them to be laced to the supplemental ends of the frontal section.

A further feature in construction is found in the provision of shoulder straps provided at their lower ends with garment supporters and formed at their upper ends with means for holding other garment straps in an assembled condition, these shoulder straps be- 5 i11 loosely and slidably connected with the body encircling part of the structure to avoid distress from undue strain and stresses such as results when the garment supporters are fastened rigidly to the body encircling part of the structure.

Serial No. 400,380.

ther features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings:

in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a supporter constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a front view of the same, that is, a view observing the structure of Figure l in the direction from left to right.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the front part or section of the supporter.

Figure 4 is a similar view of the rear part.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail section showing one of the shoulder straps and the retaining tapes carried thereby.

Figures 6 and 7 are detail sections taken on the lines 6-6 and 77, respectively, of Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that the body encircling device comprises two principal parts, namely, a front section 8 and a back section 9 see Figures 3 and 4, respectively). The front section 8 is substantially rectangular in general configuration and is constructed of elastic material which gives bot-h longitudinally and transversely to automatically conform to the shape of the abdomen with which it contacts. Thus, it functions as a self-adjusting abdominal band. It is made up of two sections 10 and 11, respectively, which are preferably joined together at their inner ends by hook and eye fasteners as generally indicated at 12 in Figure 2. It will be noted here that on the inner side there is a protective flap 13 which bridges the joint and prevents the middle of the fasteners from cutting the skin. There is a marginal rein-- forcing binder at 14;. Then there is a centralized notch as at 15 to allow freedom of motion of the limbs which cooperate therewith. At the ends are apertured terminals 15a which serve to cooperate with complemental apertured terminals 16 formed on the rectangular end extensions of the back section. In connection with the last named extensions 16 it will be observed that T provide protective flaps to underlie these as indicated at 17. It is obvious that the apertures or eyelets provided in the parts 15a and 16 serve to accommodate the adjustable laces 18 as observed plainly in Figure l. The front section is somewhat narrow with respect to the back section 9 and the central part of the back section is somewhat ovate in general outline or configuration. It will be noted that this back section is of any inelastic material as indicated at 19 and that there are feather bones or other resilient stiileners 20 attached thereto in longitudinally spaced relationship.

It will be seen that these sections confori to the portions of the anatomy with which they cooperate and provide the necessary rigidity at the back and the desirable elasticity at the front. Then too, there is sufficient adj ustinent within the lace connection to permit the diameter of this body encircling band to be varied as the form increases in size.

I next call attention to the shoulder straps 21 whose upper ends or bight portions carry tabs 22 holding in place tapes 23 having separable fasteners-2i and 25. These tapes are adapted to be connected together as indicated in the sectional view in Figure 5 to hold additional garment straps A and B in an orderly position. In other words these tapes prevent the other garment straps from slipping off of the shoulders. The depending portions of these shoulder straps 21 are not directly or rigidly connected with either of the sections 8 or 9. Instead these sections are formed with guide loops 28 through which the lower end portions of these straps are freely slidable. On the lower ends of the straps are garment supporters 29. This arrangement permits the necessary and desirable freedom of motion of the body without binding, stress or strain. This is a hi hly important feature in the combination to be borne in mind.

From the foregoing description and drawings it will be seen that I have evolved and produced what I believe to be a unique supporter. It is substantially self-adjusting, variable with ease, comforting and otherwise efficient in fulfilling the requirements of a product of this class. It is thought, however, that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the same after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is deemed unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size,material and re-arrangement of details coming wi hin the field of invention claimed may be resortedto in actual practice if desired.

I claim A maternity supporter comprising a body encircling band having an elastic front section, and an inelastic-back section, the front and backsections being respectively provided on their outer faces, and adjacent each side of the supporter with a pair of upper SARAH FRANCES MORGAN. 

